Acute-Onset Postoperative Herpetic Endophthalmitis: A Case Report.

Herpes simplex virus uveitis without corneal reactivation is more frequent than previously thought. Although herpes simplex virus has been implicated as a cause of postoperative uveitis and endophthalmitis, it has not been reported as a cause of acute postoperative endophthalmitis within the early postoperative period, specifically within one week following cataract extraction. A 55-year-old man with vascularized irregular central disc-shaped stromal corneal opacity with complicated cataracts underwent cataract surgery. Intraoperatively, there was posterior capsular rent, requiring anterior vitrectomy. On postoperative day three, the patient had an increase in inflammation in the anterior chamber (grade 4+) with marked vitreous haze (grade 4). Vitreous taps were negative for bacteria and fungi, and despite intravitreal injections of vancomycin and ceftazidime, the patient had worsening of inflammation with increasing exudates and the appearance of the fibrinous membrane in the anterior chamber. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of aqueous and vitreous samples at this point of time yielded positive serology for herpes viral DNA, and the patient was started on oral valacyclovir. The ocular inflammation resolved soon after switching to oral valacyclovir. Typical acute postoperative endophthalmitis starts two to seven days after surgery, and the most common isolate in vitreous biopsies is coagulase-negative staphylococci. We report a rare case of acute-onset herpetic endophthalmitis presenting within 72 hours following cataract surgery for a complicated cataract in a patient with a history of pre-existing healed viral keratitis. Our case highlights that a suspicion of viral endophthalmitis should be kept in mind as a cause of acute-onset post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis, especially in cases of surgery that fail to yield a positive result on Gram's stain, culture or PCR for bacteria and fungi.

Rare metastatic sites of renal cell carcinoma: a case series.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is a lethal cancer with a propensity for wide metastasis. The patterns of metastases are not clearly defined, and patients can present with metastasis to unusual sites at the time of diagnosis of the primary tumor or years after radical nephrectomy. Individual diagnostic and surgical approaches are needed to achieve complete resection with disease-free margins, even in the presence of unusual metastatic sites, multifocality, or history of previous metastasectomy. This provides palliation for symptoms and an opportunity for meaningful disease-free and overall survival. Here we present five cases of RCC with metastasis to unusual sites (scalp, jaw, forearm, parotid, breast, and skeletal muscle). Patients were treated with cytoreductive nephrectomy and/or metastasectomy wherever feasible and/or targeted therapy. In conclusion, a high index of suspicion and accurate diagnosis is important as metastasis to unusual sites presents with atypical manifestations and may masquerade as local pathology, misleading the clinician and directly affecting prognosis and survival.

A prospective study comparing side-firing KTP laser enucleation vs bipolar transurethral resection of bladder tumor for small bladder tumors in an outpatient setting.

INTRODUCTION: Laser therapy provides an alternative option for treating non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The clinical evidence for potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser en bloc resection is still limited. Here, we evaluated the efficacy, safety profile, and outcomes of side-firing KTP laser enucleation with bipolar transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in carefully selected patients with small bladder tumors in an office setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients with small bladder tumors were treated with either side-firing KTP laser enucleation (Group A; n = 40) or bipolar TURBT (Group B; n = 43). Intraoperative and postoperative parameters of interest were recorded and analyzed as per the study so as to evaluate the efficacy, safety profile, and outcome of KTP laser enucleation. RESULTS: The mean enucleation time was 23 ±5.24 min in Group A and the mean operative time was 21.98 ±4.77 min in Group B (p = 0.207). Group A had a lower risk of obturator reflex (0 vs 8; p = 0.005) and lesser amount of irrigation used intraoperatively as compared to Group B (6.2 ±0.61 L vs 7.65 ±0.75 L; p <0.0001). There were no perioperative complications. The recurrence rate at 6 months was none in Group A and 2.3% in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that, in patients with small bladder tumors (<3 cm), KTP laser enucleation is an effective and feasible alternative to bipolar TURBT in an office setting and can be carried out safely with comparable treatment outcomes, lesser use of irrigation fluid and lower risk of obturator reflex. However, further studies in larger cohorts are warranted.

Renal angiomyoadenomatous tumor (RAT): a rare distinct entity with diagnostic challenges-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Renal angiomyoadenomatous tumor (RAT) is a recently described rare renal neoplasm with variations in the presentation, gross, and microscopic findings, and having a benign course and good prognosis. It is characterized microscopically by the admixture of three components-epithelial cells arranged in tubules and nests, angiomyomatous stroma, and capillary-sized interconnecting vascular channels in close association with the epithelial cell clusters. Microscopically, these tumors can be confused with clear cell carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, mixed epithelial and stromal tumors, and angiomyolipoma. RAT differs from conventional clear cell carcinomas, which can rarely be associated with an identical leiomyomatosis stroma occasionally forming abortive vascular structures. RAT is a distinct morphologic entity, being different morphologically, immunohistochemically, and genetically from all renal tumors including conventional clear cell carcinoma and mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a case of a 21-year-old man with renal angiomyoadenomatous tumor, a rare neoplasm with only a few previous cases reported in the literature. Unlike our case, most tumors have been identified in middle-aged males; they present as well-circumscribed, encapsulated tan-brown masses with variably prominent cystic areas. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of RAT is challenging because of the rarity of the disease and common presenting symptoms to other renal pathology and is supplemented with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. A multidisciplinary team approach for diagnosis and management along with long-term follow-up are warranted.

Casale's tube with VQZ stoma: An alternative to "double Monti".

In situations requiring an ileal segment for performing a Mitrofanoff cathetrisable urinary diversion, occasionally a "Double Monti" is needed to achieve a length for the cathetrisable channel to conveniently reach the abdomen of an adult. Casale's tube is an alternative where it can provide a jointless tube with adequate length. The video demonstrates the procedure in an adult with a neurogenic acontractile bladder who had developed a panurethral stricture because of years of self catheterization. "VQZ" technique of stoma formation is helpful in prevention of stenosis.

How practical is the application of percutaneous nephrolithotomy scoring systems? Prospective study comparing Guy's Stone Score, S.T.O.N.E. score and the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society (CROES) nomogram.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively compare the Guy's Stone Score (GSS), S.T.O.N.E. [stone size (S), tract length (T), obstruction (O), number of involved calices (N), and essence or stone density (E)] score and the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society (CROES) nephrolithometric nomogram to predict percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) success rate and assess the correlation with perioperative complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated all consecutive PCNL patients at our institute between 1 November 2013 and 31 May 2015. The above scoring systems were applied to preoperative non-contrast computed tomography and the practical difficulties in such applications were noted. Perioperative complications and the stone-free rate (SFR) were also recorded. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn and the areas under curves were compared and appropriate statistical analysis done. RESULTS: In all, 48 renal units were included in the study. The overall SFR was 62.2%. The presence of staghorn stones (ß = 27.285, 95% confidence interval 1.19-625.35; P = 0.039) was the only significant variable associated with the residual stones on multivariate analysis. Stone-free patients had significantly lower median GSS (2 vs 4) and S.T.O.N.E. scores (6 vs 10) and higher median CROES scores (83% vs 63%) (all P < 0.001) compared to residual-stone patients. All scoring systems were significantly associated with SFR (all P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the areas under curves of the scoring systems (0.858, 0.923, and 0.931, respectively). Furthermore, all scoring systems had weak correlations with Clavien-Dindo classified complications (r = 0.29, P = 0.045; r = 0.40, P = 0.005 and r = -0.295, P = 0.04, respectively). We found no standardisation for the measurement of stone dimensions, tract length, Hounsfield units, and staghorn definition. CONCLUSIONS: All scoring systems equally predicted SFR and had a weak correlation with Clavien-Dindo complications. Standardisation is needed for the variables in which they have been found deficient.

Arterial ammonia levels: Prognostic marker in traumatic hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: In blunt trauma, extent of hemorrhage cannot be determined by physical examination, and vital signs may also not give clear picture in all the patients, especially young healthy ones. Hemorrhagic shock has been reported to increase blood ammonia levels. Arterial ammonia was analyzed in blunt trauma abdomen patients and correlated with shock index (SI). Its predictive value was determined for timely decision of intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred blunt trauma abdomen patients presented in the emergency ward of tertiary care hospital were included in the study. Group I comprised 62 patients requiring either blood transfusion ≥2 units and/or intervention to control bleeding within 24 h following admission. Group II had 38 patients: Not requiring transfusion/intervention during hospital stay. Arterial blood sample was taken immediately after admission; ammonia was analyzed within 20 min of sampling on Cobas 6000 (Roche). SI was calculated. Predictive value of ammonia was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Ammonia levels and SI were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in Group I compared to Group II patients (68.55 ± 14.36 umol/L vs. 37.55 ± 7.41 umol/L and 1.28 ± 0.5 vs. 0.74 ± 0.12, respectively). Significantly higher number of patients in Group I (88.7% vs. 13%) had SI > 0.9. Ammonia levels were significantly higher in patients with complications and in those expired. CONCLUSIONS: Ammonia levels were significantly higher in patients requiring blood transfusion/intervention in 24 h of admission. The best cutoff value to maximize sensitivity and specificity was ammonia >58.85 µmol/L. Ammonia estimation at admission can be clinically significant indicator of traumatic hemorrhage needing intervention.